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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Lighten up!

First of all, the winner of the $50 HomeGoods gift card is Cindy from The Flipping Couple! Congrats Cindy! Email me and I’ll get your card sent out to you!

Sooo…this post could also be titled:

“Hello my name is Sarah and I suffer from DOCD (Decorating OCD)”

or

“I am obsessed with the color green.”

or

“Spray paint is ahhhhmazing.”

I couldn’t decide.

I don’t know what’s come over me lately – but I want to paint everything in our house cream. I mean, that’s typically not me. I’m more a warm, cozy, Black Suede paint from Behr kinda girl.

I don’t know if it’s spring or just that my tastes are changing just a bit, but it’s happening and I’m not sure why. I’ve been making minor changes lately to see if I like the lighter colors around here and so far I quite like it!

I’ve shown you the steps of my mini family room redo I’ve been working on over the past couple of months. Last week I was going to do a final post with the changes because I thought I was pretty much done.

Buwahahahaha! Pushaw…that is just something I should never say to myself. Very much like I should never utter the words “This should only take a few minutes.” Because that is the project kiss of death.

I made a few changes to this wall in our family room:

Some of you remember when I moved this Ballard Designs art to this spot last month. I like this so much better because it adds some color to this spot – it was all brown before.

What? What is that you say? It’s STILL ALL BROWN? Ummm…yeah. That was bugging me too. I’ve mentioned lately that I’m obsessed with contrast. I was craving more of it in this space, especially because the brown table, chair and storage ottoman were all melting right into the floor.

My first project was the ottoman – it was a half off purchase at Joann’s a few years ago. I bought it to house diapers and wipes when the Bub was born and it’s turned out to be great extra storage. It now holds toys. (Lots and lots and lots of toys. Help me.):

I got a yard of a patterned fabric at Joann’s for the base and two-thirds yard of a solid fabric for the lid. I took the lid off, then started wrapping the ottoman…

And realized I was inches short – because I am so freaking cheap!! Argh. So what should have been really easy (simple wrapping the fabric all the way around the ottoman and stapling inside) turned into just a project that was (just a little) less easy. I had to cut a piece of fabric for each side:

I just hot glued it down on the sides. Then, to cover up the rough edges, I made a hem using hot glue as well, and just applied each section, covering the rough edges as I went:

Then I stapled the fabric down on the inside and on the bottom and did the same with the lid. You can see how I made the “seam” here:

I cannot even tell you how much I love it now!:

The print is a cotton fabric and was $10 a yard and I used a 40 percent off coupon. The top is a cotton duck and was $8 a yard, then 40 percent off. Not bad for hot glue and a staple gun, eh?

I was so excited at this transformation, I just kept going! Whoohoo! I took a dollar frame from Goodwill and then covered a leftover mat with the same green fabric:

The frame has no easel, and the Plexiglas that was inside was a mess, so I propped it up on my own easel and will get a new piece of plexi to go inside soon. The picture is about two years old, but it’s got a cute baby Bub, so I’m OK with it. ;)

The pull of HomeGoods forced medragged me lulled me in the other day, and of course I couldn’t walk by the lamps. I fell. in. love. with this glass beauty:

It was $30 with the shade – a beautiful luscious creamy drum shade. I walked past it five times and tried so hard to get it out of my head…but I couldn’t. It came home with me. And it is is SO much brighter than my cute button lamp I had there before.

My next project was the Bub’s cutie patootie little rocking chair. I spray painted it brown last year and loved it…but my cream obsession was whispering in my ear…

“Spray paint it Sarah. Do it! And use that Heirloom White color every decorating blogger in America has used but you. Do it. C’mon. You know you want to!”

So I did:

Heirloom White had me hello. I also added a simple initial on the chair, which is one of those little things I have been meaning to do for the past year anyway.

It positively pops now! I adore it!

I rearranged some of the accessories, and found these beautiful chunky candlesticks at Target for less than $10 for both:

The price tag was hung by the jute and I just left that on – I love it! The little birdie was from the Dollar Store and I spray painted it with HW (now that I’m a user, I can make up nicknames for Heirloom White.) I have another project in mind for these cuties – I’ll show you soon. Aren’t they precious?

I added a huge basket from another spot in the house to the bottom of the table and piled it with blankets:

And now this dark spot:

Is now light, bright, creamy, loveliness!:

I know the picture sucks! I was losing natural light, so I had to use a flash. Argh. And YES I KNOW, there is a cord. I’m fixing it! (It was either cover the cord or get a picture before the sun went down. Priorities.) But otherwise, I LURVE. (If the sun is shining tomorrow I’ll take a better pic!)

Many of you will not be surprised to know I have one more idea in mind for this wall – I’m just not digging the candle sconces anymore so I’ve got a project in my head. Let’s just hope it turns out like it does in my noggin.

You never cease to amaze! You do realize that I pretty much copy whatever you do so now I'm totally hitting Home Depot tomorrow for some Heirloom White. I've been using regular white and it's just too bright!In my defense though, I've been PLANNING on going to Home Goods for over a week. It just so happens that I'm actually going tomorrow, so I'm NOT copying you on that! hmmpt.

Yes, yes, it all looks so fresh so light so bright ! Lurve. Heirloom White owns me, I can't get enough of it. I think I have about half a dozen cans on sight at all times. I love all your fresh changes, and that fabric is gorg ! Your lamp? Swoon ! Have you thought of spray painting the sconces HW or apple green ? No doubt, since you are a spray paint queen ! Loving this new look friend, how inspiring !

I love, love, love that glass lamp. You simply can't find them at a good price in Australia! Oh well, I'll keep hunting and will be sure to post an excited story on my blog when I eventually find one!Kristinehttp://thepaintedhive.blogspot.com.

I found your site today and have been on it for HOURS now! Ironically, I just used spray paint on some frames I bought last week! I was on a hunt for some pics to go in my loooong upstairs hallway and found great prints in ugly-colored frames. So I painted them! After reading about your loooove for spray paint I don't feel so silly anymore! Thank you! I love what you did with this space..

Your transformation looks great!It's like the little birdie flew in for spring and everything around him is saying the same thing. I've little birdies showing up all around my house this spring as well.

This looks great! I did like the original look you had going on, but I can understand about wanting some change and lightening up. I just tried Heirloom White for the first time myself and really like it, too. I'm sure I'll be looking for more things to use it on. I think a trip to Good Will is a must!

I swiped up some of those dollar store birdies as well, and the roosters too. I liked them as they were but now I'm thinking of painting it white like you did. Love it. I usually go back and forth with the light and dark accessories. Light for spring and summer and darker for fall and winter. I love the changes you made!

Love what you did with the rocker. I have one just like that in our garage that is oh about 30 something years old because it was mine when I was little. Now I want to spray paint it but my mother would probably kill me!

OOOOh--now those are good "Before" and "After" shots. Good examples of having a really good spot, but making it even better by not being afraid to make some adjustments. :) I love the new look!! I've got a really cute Giveaway up today. Hope you might stop by to check it out, chica. :)

Great job-looks so much lighter and ready for spring! I love the dark wood look, I like how you kept it in the furniture and flooring while still adding those touches of cream. I like the idea of just removing the sconces for now, and putting them back up when/if you revert back to dark.

I *love* that lamp!!! I was at TJ Maxx the other day and so wanted to buy a lamp very similar to that for $39. But ended up not buying it. :( I love the freshness of this space now. Spring is in the air. I've been painting everything white too. ;)

So cute! I love how much brighter everything is, what a difference. I love the little bird. Everyone seems to be finding cute little birds to spray paint but me...maybe I don't get out of the house enough to go hunting. :)

Those little birdies are so cute that they are forcing me to disclose that I live in a town with three, (yes, three!) different "dollar stores". We have a Dollar Tree, a Dollar General, and a Family Dollar. I know. So could someone please save me some gas money and tell me which "dollar store" the adorable little birdies are from? Because I MUST HAVE THEM. Thanks ladies!!!

I just bought the SAME green and white fabric! But I wont tell you that I got mine for $3 a yard at Home Fabrics. Anyways, I've been debating what to do with it and one of my options was to line a trunk I have with it. I like the idea of covering it though. Very cool.

Recently used the same wrought iron easels to prop up some frames I had that were otherwise flat and not wanting to sit right on a side table...great minds think alike! And all your spray painting has inspired me! After all, isn't that what Spring is for?! :)

I have been totally in to contrast lately myself. I have a black cabinet that has a shelf that goes above it (hutch style) and I recently removed the top because its just too much black. A year ago I loved all the black in my home, now I'm brightening things up and adding lots of contrast. Your post was great timing!

By the way... Heirloom White... what brand do you all use? I see reference to this color a lot and looked for it but have yet to find it. I can't even find off white, just glossy white. Annoying! The cabinet I mentioned has some baskets below it and they could use a touch of HW. :)

Ok, my friend, I can't even stand how creative you are! I'm creative with paper...scrapbooking and stamping...but not as much around the house like you. I must visit your blog every day to get inspired and bring my house up a couple notches. You are awesome!thanks for sharing

Isn't it funny how fabric just jumps out at you? I fell in love with that EXACT fabric last year and made a purse out of it...one in the same green shade you used and one in black. You can see the results here:

I've been looking at your blog for inspiration. I'm going in. The garage that is. My husband says it's all my "stuff" but funny how the first 10 things I touch are his. Whatever! I've consolidated my Flower Shop into the house & need to work on so much. Spent Spring Break with the strong college guys from church purging from 6 storage units to 3. Can I get an Amen? Now the garage, which is like a monster that eats everything. I won't quit till it's done. Thanks so much for all your great ideas.

I just stumbled upon your blog...and the beginning of your blog sounded like I was writing it lol!! So glad I'm not the only one! I too have been obsessed with green, & white (not cream). I've always had darker, warm, cozy colors & lately have been going to the lighter side. And yes spray painting everything!! Btw your changes look great!! Much brighter, now you can see everything!

I just love all the changes! It's so funny that you posted this as I am also going through a 'light period'. The blacks and warm colors have lived in my house for so long...but there's some white and cream sneaking in and I love it! YAY for spring and lightening up!

I soooo know exactly what you mean about lightening up. I'm even itching to do an all white/neutral room. Yikes. That is plain scary. I've been spray painting like crazy since Michigan is unusually warm and sunny. Some crazy weather fur sure. But, it's great for getting the spray paint out. Great job with the changes.